Frequently Asked Questions
Q Is there any type of oil you do not recover?
A: Yes, greases and fats, vegetable oil, white spirit and creosote. We will endeavour to advise an alternative course of action, on request – please contact us.
Q: What paperwork will I have for my records?
A: The driver will issue the customer with a copy of the consignment note. Then, when the paperwork arrives at our offices a confirmation of disposal notice will be dispatched to the customer to confirm the date and quantity of hazardous waste along with other legally required information.
Q: Where do I get a 'premises code' from?
A: Before a customer requests a collection of hazardous waste they must have a valid premises code.
Waste producers can obtain this by calling The Environment Agency on 0870 850 2858 or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Q: What types of waste oil are collected by Eco-Oil?
A: We will collect the majority of used mineral oils and fuels. Call us if you are unsure but please note that if the driver suspects the waste oil is contaminated with chlorinated solvent, petrol etc, he will sample the oil but suspend the collection until we can test the sample in our laboratory. If we find the oil is suitable for recycling, we will arrange an alternative collection date. If the oil is unsuitable for recycling, we will offer an alternative disposal option.
Q: Do you collect brake fluid?
A: We do collect brake fluid but contrary to common thinking, brake fluid is not a member of the oil ‘family’ and should not be mixed with waste oils. There is a specific recycling route for this waste stream so please ask us for a separate storage container. Contact us for more advice.
Q: My workshop generates other types of waste such as batteries, oil filters, anti-freeze and rags. Can these be collected?
A: Yes we do. Click here for more information.
Q: What environmental documentation is involved and what part do I have to play in this?
A: It depends where you live. Scotland has retained the 1996 Special Waste Regulations whereas in July 2005 the regulating authorities of England and Wales adopted the Hazardous Waste Regulations. These two regulations have different legal requirements when it comes to consigning waste.
Scotland: The Special Waste Regulations determine what wastes have been classified as ‘special’ and how they are moved using the mechanisms of the consignment note. Garage waste designated as ‘special’ includes oil, batteries, oil filters, oil contaminated wipes and absorbents and all of these must be ‘consigned’.
The procedure of consigning waste employs a statutory three-day notice period to SEPA (referred to as Pre-notification) and the completion of a five-part document (the Consignment note) during the collection, carriage and disposal of the waste. Sections A to E of the Consignment note are completed as the waste progresses from release by the producer (that’s you, termed the Consignor), to the collector (that’s us, termed the Consignee), through transportation (that's us again, termed the Carrier) to its disposal point (termed the Disposer).
The Consignment note’s coloured sheets are separated during each stage of the movement of the waste and the collector will issue the green sheet to you. You will also be given a (green) copy of the smaller collection schedule, if your collection forms part of the collector’s Carrier’s round.
The good news is that your involvement in all of this is minimal. All that will be asked of you, or a responsible person on site, is for the content of the note to be checked and for a couple of signatures, dates, and your printed name.
England and Wales: The regulating authorities of England and Wales adopted the Hazardous Waste Regulations (HWR) in July 2005 and this brought about a number of changes. The main difference is that with few exceptions, any business generating hazardous waste e.g. oil, oil filters, batteries, oil contaminated wipes, etc. must register their premise with the Environment Agency before any hazardous waste can legally be removed.
Registrations must be renewed annually and it can be done on-line via the Environment Agency web site or by telephoning 08708 502 858 and asking to make a ‘hazardous waste notification’. The cost of registration by telephone is currently £23/annum. The Agency will issue you with a unique six digit registration code which must be provided to your waste management company before each hazardous waste collection is made.
When registering you will be asked a few basic questions such as how many employees work at the premise and what the SIC code for the business is (the SIC code for ‘maintenance and repair of motor vehicles is 50.20). Under the HWR, there is no requirement to pre-notify waste movements to the Agency. Hazardous waste movements must be accompanied by a consignment note and if your waste is collected as part of a multiple collection, a consignment note and annex will be required.
All consignment documentation must be completed at each stage of the collection, transport and disposal process. For multiple collections, the carrier will start by completing sections A and B showing the consignee details (the waste will be taken to) and carrier details (including vehicle and carriers registration number). This information will be common to all collections made as part of that multiple collection round. The carrier will also complete an ‘annex’ to the consignment note and this will contain details specific to your hazardous waste. This will start with a unique consignment number and your premise registration number. The consignor’s details (that’s you, and please note that your name and address must match with the details held by the Agency for your premise registration), details of the waste including description, hazardous component, weight, EWC code, UN details, your SIC code, the waste hazard code and physical form. Don’t worry too much as we will help you with this. All you need to do is carefully check the details and sign the annex. The carrier will then leave you with a copy of the annex and consignment note.
Q: I understand that SEPA or the Environment Agency may visit my premises and ask for evidence that I have disposed of my workshop waste in the correct manner. What do I have to do to comply?
A: You must be able to demonstrate that the waste you have produced has been collected by a company which is a Registered Carrier of Controlled Waste and that it has been taken to either a transfer station or a treatment/disposal facility, which is appropriately licenced with the Agency for the particular activity and the waste types it is permitted to accept. The Agency will know if your premise is registered (England and Wales only) and during an audit, the Agency will almost certainly ask to see your copies of the consignment notes and carriers round schedules, which were issued to you by the driver at the time of collection. You should retain these documents safely for a minimum period of three years.
Q: How should I store my Special or Hazardous waste?
A: We can provide you with specific storage advice and will provide you with appropriate containers. As a general rule liquid waste will normally be stored in ‘tight head’ drums (a drum that has a 2” bung hole and no removable lid) or purpose built tank. Dry waste will normally be stored in an open top container such as a drum, that can be sealed for transport. All waste containers should be clearly and accurately marked with the contents and we will provide suitable labels. Please note that our drivers are instructed not to collect unsafe, badly damaged or leaking containers.
There is an increasing focus on waste segregation and recovery and so wherever possible waste types should always be kept separate. Do not mix special or hazardous waste with general waste.
Q: Are there charges involved with consigning hazardous waste?
A: In England and Wales there is an annual charge for registration as a hazardous waste producer and this will normally be paid directly to the Agency. In Scotland each consignment note is purchased in advance from SEPA. Depending on the type of contract you have, we may charge for this as a separate item or simply include the cost within your service charge. In England and Wales, we have to provide a quarterly return to the Agency showing details of every waste consignment. The Agency charges a fee based on the number and type of consignments made.
Q: There are a number of terms I am not familiar with. What do they mean?
A: The consignment note includes a number of technical headings and as space is limited you might also come across some abbreviations:
EWC – European Waste Catalogue. This is a Europe wide list that provides a unique 6 digit code for each individual hazardous waste.
HWR – Hazardous Waste Regulations applied to the collection of hazardous waste in England and Wales
SWR – Special Waste Regulations applied to the collection of Special Waste in Scotland
SIC – Standard Industrial Classification provides a code for each business type. SIC codes can be investigated on the EA website.
Hazard Code – All hazardous waste is allocated a code that describes its hazard, eg car batteries would use H8 – corrosive and petrol/diesel mixtures would be H3A – highly flammable.
